We need more information - is the 50mph figure at room temperature, or when chilled? Inside a sealed bottle, the air pressure at 45 degrees is lower than it would be at room temperature. That'll change the launch speed of the cork.

My daughter and nephew have a contest every x-mas who shoots the cork further into my parents yard, both are 11yrs old. happily no one got killed again this year. Freinds don't let retards open champagne bottles. Maybe we should do 3 day waiting lists on them after all./sorry feeling sarcastic

to keep it safe I always use a sword to open the bottle, just run it up the side fast, catch the cork and follow through on the swing till the blade naturally stops in your brother-in-law's neck. Mission accomplished.

cyberspacedout:We need more information - is the 50mph figure at room temperature, or when chilled? Inside a sealed bottle, the air pressure at 45 degrees is lower than it would be at room temperature. That'll change the launch speed of the cork.

jso2897:cyberspacedout: We need more information - is the 50mph figure at room temperature, or when chilled? Inside a sealed bottle, the air pressure at 45 degrees is lower than it would be at room temperature. That'll change the launch speed of the cork.

Are we talking about African Cork, or European Cork?

If it's real Champagne, it must be European. That should be enough information to calculate the air-speed velocity of an unladen cork.